Valeant Pharmaceuticals International was a winner within the drugs industry, rising $1.44 (1.4%) to $104.73 on light volume

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Valeant Pharmaceuticals International ( VRX) pushed the Drugs industry higher today making it today's featured drugs winner. The industry as a whole closed the day up 0.4%. By the end of trading, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International rose $1.44 (1.4%) to $104.73 on light volume. Throughout the day, 593,104 shares of Valeant Pharmaceuticals International exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1,225,600 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $102.73-$104.79 after having opened the day at $103.14 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $103.29. Other companies within the Drugs industry that increased today were: Cardium Therapeutics ( CXM), up 27.8%, Zalicus ( ZLCS), up 26.8%, Rockwell Medical ( RMTI), up 16.9% and ZIOPHARM Oncology ( ZIOP), up 13.8%.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and markets pharmaceutical products and medical devices in the areas of neurology, dermatology, and branded generics. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has a market cap of $34.5 billion and is part of the health care sector. Shares are up 73.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are 9 analysts that rate Valeant Pharmaceuticals International a buy, 1 analyst rates it a sell, and 3 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Valeant Pharmaceuticals International as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, solid stock price performance and increase in net income. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including disappointing return on equity and generally higher debt management risk.